*Sugar For My Coffee Mission*
To journey each month into The Coffee Shop of Make-Believe. While there, through cyberspace technology and the click of a mouse, we can enjoy a cup of coffee together as we get to know some of the most influential mentors of life empowerment of our time. Our presence together becomes, "Sugar For My Coffee".
Published by Stan Leffew
SFC@advice-for-lifetime-relationships.com

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

* Monthly Mentor - The Coffee Shop of Make-Believe
* Perspective - Connections
* Journey With Jessica - One of Those Days
* Couples Corner - Stop Living for Events

Monthly Mentor - The Coffee Shop of Make-Believe

Welcome to another issue of Sugar For My Coffee. This is the one segment I try to include in all my writings.

The Coffee Shop of Make-Believe is open. Please, come on in and join us.

He said, "Whether it means having peace of mind and feeling more alive; or being more productive and more prosperous; or finding whatever is important to those you work and live with, this is the best gift you can receive because it makes you happier and more successful, TODAY!"

We will meet our guest in a moment.

How would you like to discover something that brings you greater happiness, makes you more able – to do, to decide, to concentrate, to plan, to adapt, and most of all, to enjoy and appreciate all the good that life has to offer?

Do I have your attention?

Our guest this month offers the above opportunity to us all.

Today's coffee break guest:

Dr. Spencer Johnson!

Spencer Johnson, M. D., is one of the most beloved and respected authors in the world. He has helped millions of readers discover how they can enjoy better lives by using simple truths that lead to fulfillment and success at work and at home. Dr. Johnson is often referred to as the best there is at taking complex subjects and presenting simple solutions that work.

His work has captured the attention of major media, including CNN, ABC, NBC, the BBC, Time, New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, etc…

People of this man's caliber don't walk into your life every day. This is why I enjoy The Coffee Shop of Make-Believe so much. Through the power of cyberspace, we get to have coffee with people like Dr. Spencer Johnson at the simple click of a mouse.

Those of you who are familiar with this segment of my work know that you can join us for this coffee break any time you wish. You only have to grab a cup of coffee, pull up a seat at the table and get to know our guest.

You can do that now by visiting the following Websites on the Internet.

This is the area of our newsletter where we try to take perspective of things.

I've been noticing a few things lately that a few years back were not there.

I've noticed that I worry about things back home more now when I'm away on business trips. I've noticed an increase in phone bills and electricity. I've noticed my time is no longer just my time. I've noticed I can't walk through my house in the dark anymore without stumping my toe on something that wasn't supposed to be there. I've noticed I'm needed a lot more. I've noticed I don't eat on a whim anymore. I've noticed that I have to be more accountable for my time and whereabouts. I've noticed that quiet mornings for sleeping are not a reality anymore.

I've noticed a few more things lately.

I've noticed a strange warming of the heart to hear the voice of family when I call home. I've noticed those longings of my heart to be loved are being met. I've noticed the peace inside I have from knowing someone really cares about me and would miss me if something happened to me. I've noticed the pleasant feeling of waking up to small eyes staring me in the face as I'm being tickled. I've noticed that the cry of loneliness I experienced for many years seems like a distant memory.

Connections, how wonderful they are!

That's this month's perspective. All the best!

Journey With Jessica – One of Those Days

This segment helps us add a bit of estrogen to the testosterone mix of our newsletter.

Hi everyone! Jessica here!

Have you ever had one of those days? Hold on I didn't say that quite right. What I meant to say was, "Have you ever had one of THOSE days?"

It started at 12:30 AM. Well, that's what time I went to bed. By 3:30 I was up with my 2 year old who had wandered into our room in search of a warm place between Mom and Dad. I carried him back to his room, mumbling something about, "Just close your eyes, and you'll go right back to sleep." (It always works for me. I don't understand why it doesn't work for him.)

He grabs his sippy cup and shoves it my way saying, "Ice Water."

Patiently, knowing that I didn't get the point of the request, he repeats so I will understand, "Ice."

Upon returning with the freshly filled ice water, I hand it to him, kiss him on the forehead, tell him, "I love you," and retreat for my room.

Yeah right. About the time I reach the door, the gentle wail begins. "Lay pillow," which roughly translates into, "Don't go back to your room, where your side of the bed is no longer warm, anyway. Stay here, lay down on my pillow and spend 20 minutes watching me drift off to sleep." Great news! It only takes 17 minutes to get him back to sleep.

I look at the clock as I head back to bed, and it's now 3:50. My alarm clock is set for 5:00. The forecast is predicting snow and sleet for the morning. My job is to wake up and start taking phone calls of Head Start Center Staff to decide if the weather is bad enough to close them. I go ahead and flip on the TV to see if anyone is already closing schools. No luck. That means I still have to wake up at 5:00. Drat!!

5:00 comes way to soon. I quietly go into the living room, flip on the set and get ready to write down all of the school closings. There are none. I head back for the bed, reset the alarm for 6:30 and wait for sleep to claim my mind. At 5:30, the phone rings from one of the Head Start Centers just to let me know that everything is fine. Thanks for that.

At about 8:50, a little boy's hand grabs my arm for a boost into bed. You guessed it! I over-slept. After breakfast, a change of clothes, a call to work and a call to the sitter, we're in the car headed away. We play green car, red car until about 5 minutes to the sitter's house.

That's when I look in the back seat and see my boy unloading his breakfast into the back of my car. Translated-he threw up. I pull over immediately and try to clean him up. Did I mention, I'm about 5 months pregnant? This didn't go very well. I decide to clean him up when we get to the sitter's house. Water and ventilation will go a long way toward making this better.

He's crying. Bless his heart! He's not crying because he threw up, he's crying because he made a mess. He asks for a wet wipe. I hand him one. He tries to clean up while I drive the remaining miles. It's 11:00. The day is halfway gone and I still have deadlines due at work that day.
What's my message?

Simply that waiting to have good days before learning to live is a recipe for missing out on life.

Yes, even the bad days comprise life because we all have them. But when I look over and see a tip-toeing little two-year old turning on a light switch by himself for the first time, it reminds me of the importance of not letting life pass by just because I'm having "one of those" days.

Hope you enjoyed our journey!

As always, looking forward to our time together next month.

COUPLES CORNER – Stop Living For Events and Enjoy The Journey

In this segment, we will share timely thoughts and articles on relationship building.

I remember those long fourteen to seventeen hour drives. Traveling from upstate New York to Tennessee seemed to go on forever.

I remember those quick bathroom breaks and fast food stops with little time spent enjoying the world we were driving through. With the primary focus being reaching our destination, it wasn’t expected for us to stop and enjoy the "along the way".

This is how many people live their lives.

How about you? Are you living for events instead of enjoying the journey?

Let's look at a few ways people live for events instead of enjoying the journey.

* I can't wait to meet someone and get married.
* As soon as we get out of debt, we'll be happy.
* I can't wait until we get that dream home.
* As soon as we get our mortgage paid off, we're going to do some things.
* It's going to be so good when we start having children.
* I can't wait for our children to be in college and out of the house.

Are you finding yourself anywhere in this very short list?

Please allow me to once again give you one of the most precious gifts you can enjoy. Return with me now to
The Present

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